Israeli invasion shakes Jenin

Three Palestinians have been wounded, one seriously, during a major Israeli military invasion of Jenin on Monday.

22 Dec 2003 21:39 GMT

Israeli tanks face stonethrowing Palestinians in Jenin

The occupation troops entered the northern West Bank town on Monday with 20 military jeeps and tanks, backed by two Apache helicopters which opened fire, witnesses said.

A local man who only wanted to be identified by his first name for fear of reprisals from the Israeli military, told Aljazeera.net that tanks and the Apaches entered Jenin in the morning and opened fire on the house of a 29 year-old-man in Halimah al-Sadaya, eastern Jenin.

"Apache helicopters were used to target the house of Aysar Abu Srur, his pregnant wife and two children were in the house when the army started shooting from above. No warning was given to the family, so that they could leave the house", said Yusuf.

Target

He told Aljazeera.net that Srur, 29, was arrested along with his neighbour Hasan Biss, 44.

It is not known why Srur or Biss were arrested, or if the men had any connections with armed resistance groups.

Local people have told Aljazeera.net that occupation troops pulled out of the area once the arrests were made, but Israeli planes are still flying above Jenin city and the refugee camp.

Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man in the Balata refugee camp

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli occupation force on the latest invasion of the West Bank town, but Jenin has frequently been targeted by occupation troops who have used excessive force to try and crush resistance activity in the refugee camp and city.

Balata

The latest invasion of Jenin comes amid the ongoing seven-day invasion of the Balata refugee camp near Nablus.

The invasion, one of the largest and most brutal conducted in the West Bank refugee camp, has left two children dead and scores injured.

On Sunday, five-year-old Muhammad Naim Tesrida was shot in the chest by occupation soldiers while playing near his house in Balata.

Medics reported that Tesrida died shortly after he was shot.

Nur Imran, 13, also died on Sunday, four days after he was shot in the head by a rubber bullet fired by Israeli soldiersin the camp.

"His pregnant wife and two children were in the house when the army started shooting from above. No warning was given to the family so that they could leave the house"

Jenin resident

Locals told Aljazeera.net more than 30 men had been arrested in the seven-day invasion of the refugee camp.

Aljazeera reported that 10 Palestinians were arrested on Sunday when 30 Israeli military vehicles raided Balata.

One resident of the camp told Aljazeera.net soldiers were out in the streets shooting randomly and at least 20 military jeeps were inside the camp.

The resident told Aljazeera.net occupation troops had also gathered outside the camp.

"Soldiers have gathered outside the entrance to the camp, many are inside the camp. We were told earlier in the week that this would be the last day of the invasion. We believe that the soldiers have gathered to move back into Nablus" he said.

Ambush

Aljazeera.net has been told by local people in the refugee camp that an Israeli soldier was killed by Palestinians near Balata earlier today.

Residents said the soldier was ambushed when he stepped out of his military jeep near Jerusalem Street, on the outskirts of the Balata refugee camp.

An Israeli soldier watches overPalestinian men detained in Balata

Aljazeera.net tried to contact the Israeli occupation army's District Command Office near Nablus, but they were unavailable for comment.

Earlier on Monday the Israeli military announced that it had arrested 15 "wanted Palestinians", including six members of the resistance group Hamas in co-ordinated overnight raids of Nablus, Ram Allah, and al-Khalil (Hebron).

Aljazeera correspondents say that 29 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of December in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"The number of Palestinians being killed by occupation forces since December averages about two days. This week alone has seen occupation forces invade Nablus, Balata, Jenin and the Gaza Strip", says Amayreh.

Israeli officers killed

Meanwhile, two Israeli army officers were killed in an ambush by a Palestinian resistance fighter late on Monday, said Israeli army officials.

The Palestinian was also shot dead in the incident at the Kissufim junction in the occupied Gaza Strip.

Earlier reports said that the two Israelis killed were settlers. But a military spokesman said the information was revealed after the military censor had barred publication of the identities of those killed for several hours.

The resistance fighter opened fire at the occupation soldiers as they got out of a vehicle. He then threw at least one grenade, according to the Israeli spokesman.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian President Yasir Arafat's Fatah group, and the Islamic Jihad resistance group both claimed responsibility for the incident.